Rays place Wander Franco on restricted checklist whereas MLB investigates social media posts

MLB

Franco, the face of the Tampa Bay Rays, is accused of participating in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco watches from the dugout throughout the fifth inning of a baseball sport towards the Cleveland Guardians Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photograph/Chris O’Meara) AP

By FRED GOODALL, Related Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — All-Star shortstop Wander Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays have “mutually agreed” that the 22-year-old will go on the restricted checklist whereas Main League Baseball seems into social media posts involving the participant.

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The membership made the announcement Monday within the wake of social media posts that started circulating over the weekend. The Rays didn’t element the character of the social media posts.

MLB has launched an investigation, an individual acquainted with the probe informed The Related Press, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of no announcement was made.

Franco didn’t play in Sunday’s house sequence finale towards Cleveland at Tropicana Area and didn’t accompany the Rays to San Francisco for the beginning of a six-game street journey that begins Monday night time towards the Giants.

“The Tampa Bay Rays and Wander Franco have mutually agreed that he’ll go on the Restricted Record and take go away from the membership all through the present street journey,” the crew mentioned in a one-sentence assertion.

The street journey, which incorporates three video games towards the Giants and three towards the Los Angeles Angels, ends subsequent Sunday. The Rays return house to face Colorado on Aug. 22.

“We assist any steps taken by the league to higher perceive the scenario,” the membership mentioned of the MLB investigation. “Out of respect for all events concerned, we’ve no additional feedback at the moment.”

Franco is hitting .281 with 17 homers and 58 RBIs this season.

Certainly one of Tampa Bay’s high prospects, Osleivis Basabe, began at shortstop on Sunday within the 22-year-old’s main league debut.

Franco sat on the bench within the Rays’ dugout throughout a portion of Sunday’s sport, leaving within the fifth inning.

After the sport, Rays supervisor Kevin Money was requested whether or not there was any challenge with Franco not enjoying aside from an everyday time off. Money replied: “No.”

“I’m conscious of the hypothesis, and I’m not going to remark any additional on that,” Money mentioned. “The time off was as a result of (it was) a time off.”

Franco was benched for 2 video games in late June for a way he has responded to irritating conditions and — in Money’s phrases on the time — not being the most effective teammate at instances.

Tampa Bay signed Franco to an $182 million, 11-year contract in November 2021, a take care of a crew possibility for 2033 that may very well be value $223 million.